The Major
Any student can enroll in the English major, but students must complete ENGLWRIT 112 College Writing before they can enroll in English 200 Introduction to Literary Studies, the introductory course to the major. Exceptions are students who have tested out of College Writing through the University's writing placement test; have earned a high enough score on the AP Language and Composition Test; or have taken a college writing course elsewhere.
Students must earn a GPA of 2.00 or higher in all major requirements. English 200 can be taken concurrently with many other English courses.
Requirements for the Major:
English 200 Introduction to Literary Studies (1 course)
One course in early modern British Literature (Shakespeare counts) (1 course)
Two courses total: one course each in two of the following categories: (2 courses)
British Literature and Culture After 1700
American Literature and Culture Before 1865
American Literature and Culture After 1865
One course in global Anglophone or ethnic American literature, culture or rhetorics, 200 or higher level (1 course)
Departmental Electives (3 courses)
One elective must be at a 400 or higher level. One elective must be at a 300 or higher level. One elective must be at a 200 or higher level.
Writing and Criticism (1 course)
300 Junior Year Writing. (Topics for these courses change from semester to semester; students should contact the department.)
Integrative Experience (1 course)
Requirements for the Major with a Concentration in Creative Writing:
All the requirements above, with departmental electives replaced by the following:
English 254, a 300-level creative writing course, a 400-level creative writing course, plus 2 additional creative writing electives
Requirements for the Major with a Concentration in Writing, Rhetoric, and Literacy Studies:
All the requirements above, with departmental electives replaced by the following:
English 250, a 300+ elective in Public or Professional Writing, a 400+ elective in Writing Theory or Teaching of Writing, plus one more 300+ elective and one more 400+ elective in any of these categories
Restrictions on acceptance of transfer credit:
A maximum of three courses from other institutions, including other members of the Five College system, may count toward the major. Students should pre-approve these courses before taking them and can do so at the English Undergraduate Office.
Options within the English Major
The Department also offers nine areas of focus that confer Letters of Specialization and one certificate. These are open to majors and non-majors alike:
The American Studies specialization allows students to shape an interdisciplinary course of study around unresolved social and intellectual issues in American culture; for example, questions of race, class, gender, and ethnicity.
The Creative Writing specialization aims to provide inspiration and support for committed writers and to offer serious instruction in craft. Classes usually include readings in one or more literary genres and workshop review of students' writing.
The Digital Humanities specialization aims to better prepare interested students for jobs that require both a familiarity with technology and sound communication skills. This specialization prepares students to become more critically informed and productive digital citizens.
The Environmental Humanities specialization prepares students to engage in issues and topics relating to our environment and climate change.
The Literature as History specialization emphasize links between history, narrative, and writing—and reminds us that the past is always a part of the present.
The Social Justice: Race, Class, Gender, Ability specialization explores the ways that diverse writers cast a spotlight on injustices and help us imagine a world that is better and more just.
The Study and Practice of Writing (SPOW) specialization is a good fit for students who enjoy writing or who are planning to enter writing-intensive professions such as: writing for non-profits, science writing, medical writing, legal writing, nonfiction writing, commercial and academic publishing, new media development, editing, and others.
The Teaching the English Language Arts (TELA) specialization is a good fit for any undergraduate student interested in teaching or tutoring English – whether in middle or secondary schools, ESL programs, or other sites. Students don't have to be English majors, or pursuing educator licensure, to complete the specialization.
The Individualized Option is for students who wish to design their own pathway through the major.
The Professional Writing and Technical Communication (PWTC) certificate prepares students for careers in professional writing, technical communication, and user experience (UX). PWTC students gain technology skills and project-based experience in editing, grant writing, software documentation, report writing, and web design.
Majors interested in any of the specializations, including the PWTC certificate, should consult the Department's website for more information.
English majors are urged to consider the possibility of study abroad by taking advantage of the Department’s summer program in Oxford, or by engaging in a semester or year-long program at universities in Great Britain, Ireland, and other countries.
Honors in English
The Departmental Honors track serves the interests of students with the most intense passion for writing and criticism. To join the program, students must have a minimum G.P.A. of 3.400, and should arrange to meet with the English Department Honors Program Director, Janis Greve, as soon as possible after becoming an English major to discuss course scheduling and writing interests. An appointment may be made in the Undergraduate Office, E345 South College, (413) 545-1612, ideally at the end of the sophomore year or early in the junior year, and subsequent meetings should be arranged as the thesis year approaches. To complete Departmental Honors, students must take four English honors courses with a grade of B+ or better, one of which may be at the 200 level, and two of which are either a 2-semester individually-contracted thesis or a 2-semester thesis/project seminar. All Departmental Honors students are required to complete either a research-based, critical thesis or a creative writing project sponsored by an English faculty mentor.